Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says his new campaign video ad is "completely appropriate". The mayor made his comment one day after his republican opponent lodged accusations against the ad.
Sergio Rodriguezbelieves it violates election law. The video features the northeast district police chief standing next to a police car while
The video advertisement features northeast District police chief Kimberly Beaty. She holds up a sign that says "progress" while standing next to a police car. http://youtu.be/kkEWK9t9P8E
Rodriguez believes the ad violates the election law. WBFO News asked Mayor Brown about the ad. Brown says is appropriate.
"He's absolutely wrong," said Mayor Brown. "It's a great commercial, full of volunteers, not using any city time, city resources."
According to state election law, a police officer is not in violation if they appear in a videotaped endorsement, only if they used their official power or authority would it be a violation.
Still, Rodriguez calls the campaign ad "unethical politics" and "heavy-handed".
The Rodriguez campaign has sought the opinion of the head of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association union about what appears to be an unusual use of members of the Police Department within the Mayor’s first campaign advertisement.
Rodriguez set a letter to PBA president Kevin Kennedy seeking his opinion, as well as from rank and file officers in regards to administrators carrying political campaign signs in the Mayor's first campaign commercial.
WBFO News also asked the mayor if Rodriguez could have the same access to a Buffalo Police officer for his campaign.
"If there was anyone that wanted to volunteer for him, he could have that access," said Mayor Brown.